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A Randomized Trial

David A. Stevens, MD; Thomas C. Merigan, MD

Arch Intern Med. 1980;140(1):52-54.

Abstract
• Herpes zoster can be a severe, and sometimes fatal, virus infection in its disseminated form in immunocompromised hosts. Previous studies have suggested that delay in appearance of antibody to varicella-zoster virus occurs as one defect in such patients. In this study, pooled -globulin (normal serum globulin [NSG]) and zoster immune globulin ([ZIG] prepared from convalescent zoster patients) were compared for their ability to prevent dissemination of early localized zoster in immunocompromised hosts. Either agent was given intramuscularly in randomized double-blind fashion within nine days of onset of zoster in 97 patients. Despite greater than 100-fold differences in titer of anti-varicella-zoster virus antibody, ZIG did not appear superior to NSG in prophylaxis of dissemination or diminishing postherpetic pain in zoster in immunocompromised hosts. Zoster immune globulin should be reserved for prophylaxis and modification of varicella, where its beneficial effect has been demonstrated.

(Arch Intern Med 140:52-54, 1980)

Author Affiliations
From the Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Stanford (Calif) University School of Medicine (Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and Stanford University Medical Center).

Footnotes
Accepted for publication May 7, 1979.

The following investigators collaborated in this study: Robert W. Armstrong, MD, Department of Medicine, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, Calif; Jane Desforges, MD, Tufts University Medical School, Boston; Burton Janis, MD, University of Utah Medical School, Salt Lake City; Stephen E. Jones, MD, University of Arizona Medical School, Tucson; George W. Jordan, MD, University of California Medical School, Davis; Rupert G. Miller, PhD, Stanford (Calif) Medical School; Elliott Perlin, MD, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md; Richard B. Pollard, MD, University of Texas Medical School, Galveston; Kenneth H. Rand, MD, University of Florida Medical School, Gainesville; Catherine M. Wilfert, MD, Duke University Medical School, Durham, NC.

Reprint requests to Division of Infectious Diseases, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, 751 S Bascom Ave, San Jose, CA 95128 (Dr Stevens).

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